Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are offering Having Council and the local community to tackle the causes of wildfires at Arnolds Field.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency and the UK Health Security Agency attend the local authority-led Launders Lane technical sub-group meetings, along with the London Fire Brigade and others. Ultimately the council is the lead authority on regulating the site and more information on the work of its technical sub-group can be found on the council’s website.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to the £11.7 billion allocated to London to build homes over the next 10 years, how many homes will be built with that funding; how they will ensure those homes are delivered; what milestones they have set to ensure delivery of those homes within the 10-year period; and what assessment they have made of whether that funding will be sufficient to support delivery of the London building target of 88,000 homes per year.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Delivering historic levels of housebuilding in London is a critical part of this government’s commitment to build 1.5 million homes within this parliament.

At the Spending Review, the Chancellor confirmed £39 billion for a successor to the Affordable Homes Programme over 10 years from 2026-27 to 2035-36. Our ambition is to deliver around 300,000 social and affordable homes over the programme’s lifetime.

Up to 30% of the funding over the programme (up to £11.7 billion over the 10 years) will be delivered by the GLA to use in London. We will set initial targets for Homes England and the GLA after we have received bids from providers, and will review these targets through the lifetime of the new programme to drive progress towards our ambition. It is our intention to publish a full prospectus for the new Social and Affordable Homes Programme in autumn 2025 and open it for bids in the winter.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many hectares of (1) brownfield land, and (2) greenfield land, there are in (a) the Metropolitan Open Land, and (b) the Green Belt, in each local authority in Greater London.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The department does not hold data on Metropolitan Open Land, which is entirely a matter for the Mayor.

The information requested is not recorded in that form. However, our general statistical estimates do record the hectarage of Green Belt land within each local authority that is in Non-Developed Use and Developed Use. These are available here.

For other information on Metropolitan Open Land and Green Belt, I refer the Noble Lord to the answer in the other place to Question 53097 of 28 May here.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the target to build 1.5 million homes in this Parliament is deliverable.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

We have always been clear that building 1.5m homes is an ambitious target – which is vital given we have inherited the worst housing crisis in living memory. It will require a rate of housebuilding and infrastructure construction not seen in over 50 years. We recognise the scale of the challenge, and we are taking bold action to deliver the homes our country needs and unlock economic growth, but it will take time before that translates into delivery.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the merits of introducing a two-week timeframe for companies and individuals that offer properties for short-term let to respond to enquiries from the local council.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

While short-term lets can benefit local economies, the government appreciates that excessive concentrations in some areas of the country can impact on the availability and affordability of homes to buy and rent, as well as having a detrimental impact on local services.

That is why we remain committed to introducing a national mandatory registration scheme for short-term lets, which will give local authorities access to valuable data to help address housing impacts and to protect the spirit of our communities. Public testing on the register is due to start in September. This means that we are on track to launch a full version of the scheme by next year. From April 2025, the furnished holiday lettings tax regime was abolished, eliminating the tax advantages that short-term let owners had over private rented sector landlords.

We are considering what additional powers we might give local authorities to enable them to respond to the pressures created by short-term lets.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to StandWithUs UK Report Voice of Students 2024/25, published on 7 May, what steps they are taking to support Jewish university students following increases in incidents of antisemitism on campuses.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

The government is deeply concerned by the findings of the StandWithUs UK report.

Antisemitism is unacceptable, and universities must have robust policies and processes in place for preventing and tackling it. Whilst it is entirely right that universities protect freedom of speech and academic freedom on campus, this does not extend to hate, harassment or incitement. Last month, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education met with Vice Chancellors to discuss what more could be done to address the continued unacceptable level of antisemitism on our campuses.

From August 2025, the Office for Students’ (OfS) new condition of registration for preventing, addressing and investigating incidents of harassment will take effect and universities will be held to account for their action. Furthermore, under the Prevent duty, the OfS monitors and evaluates whether universities and other higher education (HE) providers have due regard to the need to prevent people being drawn into terrorism.

The government is also investing £7 million to tackle antisemitism in education, including support for Jewish student welfare in HE, and remains committed to ensuring that all students can study in safety and dignity.

Found: 10.50 am Watch the meeting Members present: Lord Gascoigne (The Chair); Baroness Andrews; Lord Bailey of Paddington